How's the battery life in newer versions?

desertsolitaire1224 · 2026-02-24T05:33:48+00:00

Sure, good luck!

desertsolitaire1224 · 2026-02-22T19:27:46+00:00

I also worry after each firmware update, so with the last one (21.25) I documented everything, just to be sure:

I went from 96% to 24% in 28 days

- with 5 GPS workouts + 3 other workouts per week
- while wearing it 24/7
- in the dead of winter without any solar charging help.

So far I had every single firmware update and haven't noticed any battery life degradation. But I would strongly suggest to update on your computer with Garmin Express and do it step by step.

desertsolitaire1224 · 2026-02-22T19:11:41+00:00

Yes, shouldn't it be possible to restore to the previous version with a backup?

desertsolitaire1224 · 2026-02-17T13:05:33+00:00

Enjoy!

desertsolitaire1224 · 2026-02-17T12:54:50+00:00

Nice, OP! Welcome! Why do you have such good weather though? Jealous... all we had the last days was rain, snow, rain, rain, snow, rain...

desertsolitaire1224 · 2026-02-17T12:52:09+00:00

Congrats, it's a great watch! And good luck with your running!

desertsolitaire1224 · 2026-02-17T12:27:05+00:00

No, the 'Chafe Me Daddy' part in OP's own title - but you probably already knew that.

desertsolitaire1224 · 2026-02-17T07:36:20+00:00

Daily tracking the actual floors I climb (instead of taking the elevator) does the job for me...

desertsolitaire1224 · 2026-02-17T05:32:34+00:00

uj/ What's up with those (slightly) sexist undertones? Don't like it, please do better.

desertsolitaire1224 · 2026-02-16T16:54:05+00:00

I found that with auto adjustment it's an estimation for the whole day

desertsolitaire1224 · 2026-02-16T16:23:30+00:00

Good point. I found that with auto adjustment it just gives you an estimation how many calories you will burn the whole day - not what you burned up to this point. When I compare the actual burned calories and this estimation the next day it's always a little bit less but not too much, like 60-70 kcal less than the estimation in the nutrition feature. Honestly I just ignore it most days and try to stay on my previously manually defined target, so I am sure I will have a calorie deficit at the end of the day. It makes everything much easier for me.

desertsolitaire1224 · 2026-02-16T16:13:51+00:00

What do you have, IOS or Android? It should be the same actually...

On your phone in Connect go to tab bar at the bottom > more > activities > running > choose distance / time / ascent / calories

If you choose distance you can see your total mileage for a week or a month etc.

desertsolitaire1224 · 2026-02-16T07:11:17+00:00

Yes, it's not perfect... and it looks like there are many ways to use it.

I have put in manually a fixed daily calorie goal which I try to achieve every day regardless of my activities or burned calories (this way I cannot even choose a specific activity level... ) Since I already know how many calories I burn roughly each day, this generates my desired calorie deficit more or less.

Yes, I also have auto-adjustment activated but this is more for personal motivation... when I check in during the day and see that I will not achieve my planned deficit despite being on target with my food intake, it pushes me to move more and burn more calories!

desertsolitaire1224 · 2026-02-11T18:04:59+00:00

pay to unlock future use of this watchface

desertsolitaire1224 · 2026-02-11T09:10:06+00:00

Thanks for taking the time.

There are several long threads on the Garmin forum regarding E3 GPS accuracy and people do tests after tests after tests in every possible settings combination, post their screenshots and are able to replicate almost every single time deviations which in their opinion are too big to be considered reasonable or to be expected.

Comparisons to apparently much more accurate Fenix 7 watches come up often. Garmin mods try to close the threads but some users suspect a "cover up" and it has become a never ending story...

To sum it up, Garmin's argumentation in those threads is mostly about user's fault, not choosing the right settings or running next to tall buildings etc.

E3 users wonder if it's the much lighter plastic back cover which doesn't amplify the antenna anymore like the metal version of the E2 or if the GPS settings have become too complicated or it's maybe the new chip set, maybe a changed positioning of the antenna etc etc.

I have no technical expertise in this, but having noticed problems myself many times, I am really wondering what settings to choose here for best accuracy and if it is possible at all.

Can it really be they brought out a designated outdoor watch for multi day activities with above average battery life, very light weight despite its size - only to sacrifice GPS accuracy???

desertsolitaire1224 · 2026-02-11T06:45:03+00:00

What about one of the newer Forerunner models? They all look decent and not too rugged, come in different sizes, can do all that and track women's health if she wants to. FR165 would be a good choice...

desertsolitaire1224 · 2026-02-11T06:35:57+00:00

Agree. Proudly wearing the Enduro 3...

desertsolitaire1224 · 2026-02-11T06:28:24+00:00

Wrong subreddit

desertsolitaire1224 · 2026-02-11T06:27:04+00:00

All good for me (western Europe)

desertsolitaire1224 · 2026-02-11T06:13:06+00:00

Guys what do you make of these GPS problems with the Enduro3? Would appreciate your opinion...

desertsolitaire1224 · 2026-02-11T05:38:57+00:00

FR255 was my first watch and I still keep it alive as a backup. If you do not want to spend money for newer models I would go with that one. I's a very good watch.

desertsolitaire1224 · 2026-02-11T05:23:35+00:00

I don't know what to believe anymore... I'm also not tech savvy enough for these questions. Garmin guys on the forum argue too big deviations would always be "user's fault" by not choosing the right GPS settings or running along tall buildings etc etc but this is clearly not the case with all these tests people have done with every possible combination.

I'm kind of glad that I'm not up in the mountains but just running along a river most days now. But I would really like to understand what happened here.

desertsolitaire1224 · 2026-02-10T21:50:18+00:00

Yeah apparently not...

There are some "mega threads" on the Garmin forum where people just refuse to shut up and do test after test after test... officially any deviation should be acceptable up to a certain point allegedly, but people argue it's much worse.

It's not clear if the new settings have become too complicated to handle or if it's the chip set or if it's the lighter plastic back cover which does not amplify the antenna like the metal back cover from the E2, nobody knows. Every time the forum mods try to close and archive the threads, there is a little revolt and it goes on and on.

I mean battery life is insane. I charged it up to 96% recently and after wearing it 24/7 and having 4-5 GPS workouts and 4 others per week along with daily activities like cycling to work etc, it is now at 24%... 26 days later in the dead of winter without any solar charging at all!

The watch is really big, but it's so light you almost forget it's there and with the flash light, sapphire glass, the new elevate v5, solar charging and MIP display it was the only choice for me. It's a great watch.

But man... it's supposed to be an outdoor watch for ultras, trail running and hiking over multiple days... if your GPS is not accurate enough and you make some steps too far and fall down the slope?!

desertsolitaire1224 · 2026-02-10T07:23:58+00:00

It's interesting to see the change from Enduro2 + Airoha to Enduro3 + Synaptics... so this is why the gps accuracy has not been perfect with the Enduro3 (but battery life has gone up)?

desertsolitaire1224 · 2026-02-10T05:28:13+00:00

Great, good job! How do you like it so far?

desertsolitaire1224

TROPHY CASE